Sea shanties and maritime music

To those who know and can feel, there is a smack of salt spray in every line of these rude virile verses. To them once again will come back the creak of the blocks as the falls whine through them, and the dead heavy lurch as the boat jerks upwards... I can hardly think of any words or tunes that appeal more intimately to all the spirit of adventure that life has left in me.

Arthur Conan Doyle, Letter to F. T. Bullen, 1914

This Day in History (February 29, 1908)

This Day in History (January 8, 1806)

The death of Lord Nelson was a national tragedy like no other for England. "From Greenwich to Whitehall Stairs, on the 8th of January, 1806, in one of the greatest Aquatic Processions that ever was beheld on the River Thames" drifted the royal shallop (barge). The event is referenced in the modern lament, Carrying Nelson Home. Nelson is mentioned in nearly a dozen other songs.

Try a random shanty sampling

The Maid I Left Behind
Forecastle song

My parents raised me tenderly; they had no child but me.
My mind being bent on rambling, with them could not agree,
Till I became a rover bold, which grieved their heart full sore.
I left my aged parents and I ne'er shall see them more.

There was a worthy gentleman residing in that part,
He had an only daughter dear, and I had won her heart
She was noble-minded, true and tall, so beautiful and fair,
With Columbia's fairest daughter she surely could compare.

I told her my intention was soon to cross the main,
And asked her if she would prove true till I'd return again.
She threw her arms around my neck, her bosom heaved a sigh.
"Fear not for me, brave youth," said she, "my love can never die.

"I had a dream the other night which I cannot believe,
That distance breaks the links of love and leaves fair maids to grieve."
I pressed a kiss upon her lips and told her, "Never fear."
I vowed by Him who ruled the skies that I would be sincere.

According to agreement I went on board my ship,
And to the town of Glasgow I made a pleasant trip.
There I found gold was plenty and the maids were somewhat kind.
It made my love grow cold a bit for the girl I left behind.

To Dumfries town I next sailed down, that hospitable land,
Where handsome Jennie Ferguson first took me by the hand.
She said, "I've gold in plenty, and in love with you, I find."
The thoughts of gold destroyed my love for the girl I left behind.

Says she, "If you will marry me and say no more you'll rove,
The gold that I possess is yours and I will constant prove;
But your parents dear and other friends that you have left behind,
Don't ever, if you marry me, bear them again in mind."

To this I soon consented, and I own it to my shame,
For what man can be happy when he knows he is to blame?
It's true I've gold in plenty and my wife is very kid,
But my pillow oft is haunted by the girl I left behind.

My father in his winding-sheet, my mother too appears,
The girl I love stands by their side to wipe away their tears;
They all died broken-hearted, and now it's too late, I find
That God has seen my cruelty to the girl I left behind.

The Zubenelgenubi
Forecastle song

Come all you good people and listen unto me
I'll tell you of a tragedy that happened on the sea
On the 18th day of January as the sun went down
The Zubenelgenubi sailed out of Newport Town

She was duly built and fitted, seaworthy, it was said
Her skipper was Steve Goodwin from out of Marblehead
He was able, strong, confident, he'd fished for 20 years
Like all brave souls upon the sea, he had respect and fear

A fisherman's life was the life for me
I made my living out on the sea
Some call me fool, some call me brave
Now I rest in a watery grave

Aside from Captain Goodwin the crew did number three
There was Newport's own Steve Kelly, a fine young man was he;
Steve Haynes and Candace Stewart, oh they made up the crew
They hauled the traps far off the shore where the pleasures they are few

And they headed for Nantucket on a week to 10-day trip
Once out the winds did howl, the barometer did dip
And the winds that lashed about, ail off New England's shore
After 10 days out we heard not one word more

(Chorus)

Winds lashed out fury, on destruction they were bent
While we in our warm houses, we waited for some news
There came no word or message of that boat or of her crew

Finally Goodwin's wife all on the 18th day
No longer could she stand, no longer could delay
She called upon the Coast Guard to search the ocean wide
And North to South and East to West, 'though nothing there was spied

Whatever was the fate of that boat or her crew
Will perhaps never be known to the likes of me or you
But we'll drink now unto them, wherever they may be
And all brave souls who risk their lives all on the ragin' sea

(Chorus)